The Gforce Software M-Tron (actually it would have been GMedia when first released) is one of the longest serving virtual instruments still in production although they've now sold out and are replacing it with the M-Tron Pro. The original M-Tron was a virtual rendering of the classic tape-based Mellotron keyboard. In the original instrument the sound was stored on 8 second tape loops - one tape for each of it's 35 notes, with each machine capable of having three different sound sets installed at any one time. The result quite literally rocked the live and studio music world, it being the first form of "sample" playback device widely available - although it would have cost you a small fortune back in the day. Not to mention it weighed a ton, was hugely temperamental and was a real PITA to change sounds.
The M-Tron Pro comes with 100's of tape banks in it's 3.5GB library,700+ patches, and an all new synthesis engine - G:sampler, also utilised in their highly acclaimed Virtual String Machine.
Features
200+ total tape banks (sample sets), including:
45 brand-new tape banks not found in the original M-Tron
19 tape banks from the original M-Tron virtual instrument, remastered at London's legendary Abbey Road Studios
Over 40 looped tape banks
Over 3.5GB of samples total
700+ patches including many created by world-class recording artists and programmers
Up to 35 notes, each individually sampled
Dual layer and split keyboard operation
Programmable MIDI CC response via MIDI Learn
29 parameters per layer including synth parameters:
Vintage-style ensemble and delay effects
Low-pass, band-pass and high-pass resonant filter section
Tape reverse
Tape half speed
Formats
Standalone, VST 2.4 (Mac/PC including VSTi), RTAS® (Mac/PC), MAS (Mac) and Audio Units (Mac).
Availability
Very, very soon. Price $199 / €139 Euros/ £109 UKP.
Upgrades are available to existing M-Tron users for €59 Euros via the GForce Website (about £49 UK, 70US$)